XN000022-1988-08-13 — Page 5

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1988

RECOMMENDATIONS OF LRT SAFETY REPORT ACCEPTED

** *

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION HAVE MADE A CAREFUL STUDY OF THE SAFETY REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE RAILWAY INSPECTOR, MR ALAN COOKSEY, AND HAVE ACCEPTED ALL HIS RECOMMENDATIONS,

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR C.F. MAK, SAID

(SATURDAY).

TODAY

MR COOKSEY, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ CARRY OUT AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT ON THE SAFETY OF THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM, HAS EXAMINED EVERY ASPECT OF THE LRT DURING HIS INSPECTION.

THIS COVERED THE STATION DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION OF THE VEHICLES, THE SIGNALLING SYSTEM, THE FENCING AND PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ARRANGEMENT, THE ROAD JUNCTIONS, THE TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION OF DRIVERS, THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE LRT SYSTEM AND THE CAUSES OF THE VARIOUS ACCIDENTS.

IN HIS REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR COOKSEY MADE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BOTH TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL

IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE BY BOтh the GOVERNMENT AND THE KCRC.

MR COOKSEY HAS EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINED EFFORTS TO EDUCATE BOTH PEDESTRIANS AND MOTORISTS ABOUT THE LRT SYSTEM.

THE GOVERNMENT IS REINFORCING ITS EXISTING PUBLICITY EFFORTS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO 80 UNTIL THE COMMUNITY HAS BECOME MORK ACCUSTOMED TO THIS NEW TRANSPORT SYSTEM.

"ACTION HAS ALREADY BEEN TAKEN BY BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE KCRC TO IMPLEMENT ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS," MR MAK SAID.

**THE PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH MR COOKSEY CONSIDERS SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE FULL OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM ARE BEING GIVEN IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. ALL OTHERS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE.'

"

THE GOVERNMENT ALSO NOTED THAT THE UK RAILWAY SATISFIED WITH THE REVISED TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR LIGHT DRIVERS WHICH HAS BEEN INTRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THE REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON JULY 25.

INSPECTOR IS RAIL VEHICLE

INVESTIGATION

THE RAILWAY INSPECTOR SAID IN HIS REPORT THAT THE REVISED TRAINING METHODS AND THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTINUAL MONITORING DRIVERS' PERFORMANCE DO NOT WARRANT ANY FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

OF

BY

HIM.

/MR MAK